A Carnival Cruise Line guest has gone viral after claiming her family’s holiday was disrupted when crew allegedly confiscated an unusual personal hygiene item inspired by ancient Roman practices.
Heather Farley, who posts on TikTok as @heathere13_, claimed in a video that has since been deleted that Carnival would not allow her family’s xylospongium, commonly referred to online as a “poop sponge”, to be taken onboard.
According to Farley, the incident was serious enough that her family “turned around”, although it remains unclear whether they abandoned the cruise altogether or continued their holiday after the alleged confiscation.
The claim quickly attracted attention across social media after the original TikTok disappeared. Cruise YouTuber La Lido Loca later featured the video in a July upload, introducing the story to a wider audience.
Guest Says Ancient Hygiene Item Was Confiscated
In the now-deleted TikTok, Farley expressed frustration over what she described as Carnival’s decision to confiscate the item.
“Well, I am extremely disappointed in Carnival cruises,” she said. “We are on our way home. We had to turn around basically, because they were going to make us throw away our xylospongium. Or, if you want to use more modern terms, our poop sponge.”
She went on to explain that her family of seven uses the ancient Roman-inspired hygiene method as an environmentally friendly alternative.
“We try to be eco-friendly, and our family of seven uses a Roman way of hygiene to reduce costs and to protect the Earth.”
The video included a photograph of what she said was the family’s xylospongium, showing a natural sea sponge attached to a wooden stick.
According to Farley, Carnival staff informed the family that the item was not permitted onboard and that the ship instead uses conventional toilet paper.
“Basically, they confiscated it from us. Said that it was not allowed on board. The ship uses toilet paper,” she said.
Carnival Cruise Line’s published guest policies do not specifically mention xylospongiums or similar items. The cruise line’s guidance allows passengers to bring personal care products without specific size restrictions, although there are rules governing liquids and certain prohibited items. There is no publicly available policy specifically addressing ancient-style hygiene devices.
Ancient Roman Tool Sparks Modern Debate
The xylospongium is a genuine historical artefact dating back to the Roman Empire, although historians continue to debate exactly how it was used.
Some researchers believe it served as an early form of toilet paper, while others argue it was primarily intended to clean communal latrines rather than for personal hygiene. The latter theory is widely considered the more likely explanation because of the tool’s brush-like appearance and the archaeological evidence surrounding its discovery.
Regardless of its original purpose, the device is virtually unknown in everyday life today, making Farley’s claims particularly unusual.
The story also prompted comparisons with another viral TikTok creator, @jazminer17, who previously claimed her family used homemade versions of xylospongiums stored in vinegar between uses. Those videos generated significant scepticism online, with many viewers dismissing them as clickbait while others expressed disgust at the concept.
Reaction to Farley’s claims has been similarly divided, although many social media users supported Carnival’s reported decision.
One commenter on YouTube wrote: “Yeah, I call bull on the whole poop stick/sponge story. It has to be a joke, right? If true, good for Carnival to put a stop to that idea. Picturing someone washing their poop sponge in a cabin sink or shower makes me want to vomit.”
Another added: “Some things are best to leave at home. Poop sponge is definitely one of them. Gross.”
The incident also comes at a time when cruise lines remain highly focused on sanitation following several gastrointestinal illness outbreaks reported across the industry in recent years. While there is no suggestion the alleged item posed any health risk, onboard hygiene policies remain an important part of cruise operators’ efforts to minimise the spread of viruses and bacteria.
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